Tension gripped the Himachal Pradesh-Uttarakhand border after a group of nearly 200 Nihang Sikhs reportedly broke through police barricades at the Kulhal check post while marching toward Uttarakhand. The group, which had travelled from Mohali in Punjab, is demanding the release of four Nihang members arrested following a violent clash in Chamoli district earlier this month.
The dramatic standoff prompted the Uttarakhand administration to tighten security across key entry points, deploy additional police and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel, and place intelligence agencies on high alert to monitor the movement of the marching group.
The current unrest stems from an incident that took place on June 16 near Panch Puliya in Karnaprayag, along the route to the Hemkund Sahib pilgrimage. According to police, a dispute over a vehicle parking spot between local residents and Sikh pilgrims turned into violence. Traditional weapons, including swords and kirpans, were allegedly used during the clash, leaving several people injured.
Following the incident, Uttarakhand Police arrested four Nihang Sikhs. However, Sikh religious bodies, including the Akal Takht, criticised the police action, alleging that the arrests were one-sided. They claimed the local residents initiated the confrontation and further accused the police of mistreating the arrested Nihangs, including allegedly removing their turbans while they were in custody.
The arrests sparked widespread resentment among sections of the Sikh community. Earlier this week, another group of Nihangs had staged a brief protest by barricading themselves inside a gurdwara in Rudraprayag’s Nagrasu area before leaving after discussions with the administration.
The latest march has significantly escalated the situation. Reports indicate that after a high-level meeting between district officials and Nihang representatives at Paonta Sahib Gurdwara failed to produce a breakthrough, a smaller group of around 20 to 30 Nihangs reportedly pushed past heavy barricades at the Kulhal border and proceeded toward the Dehradun-Paonta highway.
The protesting group has laid out three primary demands before the Uttarakhand government. They are seeking the immediate release of the four arrested Nihangs, the removal of the investigating officer handling the case, and disciplinary action against police personnel accused of misconduct during the arrests.
In response, authorities have established multiple security checkpoints across vulnerable locations leading into Dehradun. Fresh barricades have been installed at strategic junctions, including Prem Nagar Chowk, while ITBP personnel and heavy police contingents remain deployed to prevent any further escalation.
Officials have also confirmed that intelligence agencies are closely tracking the movement of the group to ensure that law and order is maintained. State Home Secretary Shailesh Bagauli has appealed for calm and urged people not to give the dispute a communal or religious colour. He warned that strict legal action would be taken against anyone attempting to spread misinformation or incite tensions.
With negotiations yet to yield a resolution, the situation remains tense as authorities continue efforts to prevent further confrontation while keeping communication channels open with the protesting group.
